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Dolphins’ run game in historic win over Broncos shows why team didn’t acquire Jonathan Taylor or Dalvin Cook

david furones, chris perkins, south florida sun-sentinel
·6 min read

MIAMI GARDENS — After an offseason of noise surrounding the Miami Dolphins and pursuit of former Pro Bowl running backs, they proved in Sunday’s 70-20 win over the Denver Broncos, that they’re just fine with who they already have.

The Dolphins ground game made a statement in the form of a franchise record with 350 rushing yards. It was one of several team records in a home opener at Hard Rock Stadium that saw the most points in franchise history and total yards (726).

De’Von Achane set Miami’s rookie rushing record with his 203 yards on the ground. He scored four total touchdowns — two apiece rushing and receiving.

Raheem Mostert also scored four times — three rushing, one receiving — as he went for 82 rushing yards, plus another 60 receiving.

It shows why Miami general manager Chris Grier viewed any potential addition of Jonathan Taylor or Dalvin Cook — or any other tailback you want to name — as a luxury if it happened and not necessity.

“When you have a lot of guys, a lot of people, a lot of naysayers out there,” Mostert said, “they want to continue to talk and continue to — ‘Oh, I wish this player was here, I wish that player’ — my whole thing is I’ve always been an underdog. And that’s okay, but I’m going to show everybody. I’m going to prove everybody wrong because that’s what fuels me the most is proving somebody wrong.”

And this is that Miami has Jeff Wilson Jr., the expected No. 2 tailback behind Mostert, on injured reserve while Salvon Ahmed was out against Denver.

Achane was a pleasant surprise in his first significant NFL action after he was a healthy scratch in the team’s opener against the Los Angeles Chargers and got one carry last week at New England.

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“I ain’t going to lie. Eight touchdowns between two running backs,” Achane said. “Seventy points is crazy. Our stats are like video game type stuff. I’ve never been on this side of it.”

“I just can’t be much more proud of him,” Mostert added of the rookie out of Texas A&M he has taken under his wing. “He’s a sponge. He comes in. He understands the assignments. He understands the play-calling. He understands what he has to do.”

Armstead debuts in 2023

Dolphins left tackle Terron Armstead made his 2023 debut against the Broncos after missing the first two games. He, too, provided a boost in the ground game’s success Sunday.

“We put a lot of that on the O-line. A lot of that run game weight is on our shoulders,” he said. “We try to create lanes and get those guys into the third level. That’s the goal.”

Also returning after missing last week’s win over the Patriots was outside linebacker Jaelan Phillips. Armstead had ankle, knee and back injuries, and Phillips was dealing with a back ailment.

The Dolphins, however, were without standout wide receiver Jaylen Waddle, who was ruled out Saturday and is still in the concussion protocol. Miami coach Mike McDaniel expressed optimism Friday over Armstead and Phillips playing.

Armstead, the four-time Pro Bowler, missed the Dolphins’ first two games at the Chargers and Patriots mainly because of the ankle injury. He suffered it in an Aug. 17 joint practice with the Houston Texans. Kendall Lamm was a serviceable replacement at left tackle in Armstead’s absence.

Phillips, who was held out of the Patriots game with the back injury first popping up two days earlier, eventually left Sunday’s game with an oblique injury.

Waddle missed a game for the second time in his NFL career. In his rookie season in 2021, he was held out for a home win against the New York Jets while on the COVID-19 list.

Ahmed, who entered Sunday doubtful with a groin injury, was indeed ruled out Sunday morning.

The Dolphins’ other inactives were cornerback Cam Smith, wide receiver Erik Ezukanma, tight end Tyler Kroft, tackle Kion Smith and quarterback Skylar Thompson, who is available as an emergency third quarterback.

Also entering questionable but available Sunday for Miami: Defensive tackle Raekwon Davis (wrist), defensive back Elijah Campbell (knee) and tight end Julian Hill (ankle). Kroft was questionable with a back injury before being ruled out.

Cam Smith, the rookie second-round pick, and Ezukanma, the 2022 fourth-round selection, were healthy scratches. Smith has not played defensively in his first two NFL games but has contributed on special teams.

The Dolphins chose to have wide receiver Cedrick Wilson Jr., who had been inactive the first two games, active over Ezukanma, along with Robbie Chosen, who was elevated from the practice squad Saturday. Ezukanma has five carries for 22 yards this season, being used as a versatile ball-carrying receiver in McDaniel’s offense.

The Broncos had already ruled out safety Justin Simmons and outside linebacker Frank Clark ahead of Sunday’s game, both with hip injuries.

They also had safety JL Skinner, defensive end Ronnie Perkins, center Alex Forsyth and defensive lineman Elijah Garcia inactive.

Injury updates

Dolphins that didn’t finish Sunday’s game due to injury included Phillips, center Connor Williams, wide receiver River Cracraft and safety DeShon Elliott.

McDaniel didn’t have an update on any postgame but noted his head athletic trainer didn’t seem too concerned.

Williams suffered a groin injury but was back on the Miami sideline watching the end of the game. Eichenberg entered for him as Miami’s backup center.

Cracraft was ruled out shortly after initially being listed as questionable to return.

Elliott was seen walking into the locker room shortly before Phillips.

Cornerback Eli Apple, who was demoted from his boundary cornerback role in the nickel package, was evaluated for concussion in the fourth quarter.

Local, but not by design

When backup quarterback Mike White hit wide Chosen, with Broncos cornerback Patrick Surtain II in coverage, for that 68-yard touchdown early in the fourth quarter it was about as local (or Broward) as a NFL play could get. Consider White attended University School, Chosen attended South Plantation and Surtain attended American Heritage.

But, according to quarterback Tua Tagovailoa, that wasn’t the play McDaniel called.

Tagovailoa, whose locker is next to White’s, jokingly interjected during White’s postgame interview to reveal White changed the play.

“I gotta say something,” Tagovailoa began. “So Mike decided to call that play that he threw to Chosen, just throwing that out. We called a different play. Mike decided to do that on his own.”

Tagovailoa then smiled, walked away, and said to White, “Good luck, brother.”

White smiled, and then continued the interview. He said he knew that play was hyper-local.

“I told Chosen that,” White said. “I gave him a little love in the end zone and I was like, ‘Who’d have thought?’

“It’s cool. All the storylines in today’s game were really cool.”